Mouth bit



Sept. 12, 1939. B. DALZIEL 2,172,501

MOUTH BIT Filed Sept. 2, 1938 INVENTOR [r4 Bar/(cf Dn/z/e/ ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 12, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to an animal mouth bit, especially for horses.

Many horses, particularly those with tender mouths, receive painfully sore inner mouth mem- 5 branes, which results from such membranes being rubbed against the teeth of the horse when it is reined through the mouth bit to one side or the other. This condition is bothersome in young colts or fillies, the teeth of which are relatively sharp edged, and consequently makes it hard to manage these animals, especially thoroughbred race horses having strong heads.

One of the primary objects of my invention is the provision of an improved mouth bit which is designed to obviate the above described difiiculty. Other objects of the invention are the provision of an improved mouth bit of the character described which is of simple and economical construction, and which presents relatively soft or resilient engaging surfaces to the horses mouth. Additional objects of the invention will become apparent from a perusal of the following description thereof.

In general, the bit of my invention comprises a member adapted to extend through the mouth of the animal. Adjacent each end, the member is provided with a structure which is so shaped as to form a central pocket and thereby bear against the cheek of the animal when it is reined to one side or the other, at a location remote from said member and adjacent the peripheral edge of such structure. This precludes such member from being drawn end-wise through the mouth which would result in the inner mouth membranes be- 35 ing rubbed against the animals teeth. Preferably, such peripheral edge is made relatively soft and yieldable, so that the pressure against the outside of the check, which results when the animal is reined to one side or the other, will not hurt it.

The drawing is now referred to for a more detailed description of the invention, in which:

Fig. 1 is horizontal section, partly in elevation, through the preferred form of mouth bit of my 5 invention.

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the bit, with parts thereof shown broken away to disclose more clearly the construction.

Fig. 3 illustrates attachment of the bit to a horse.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a modified form of the invention.

The mouth bit, illustrated in Figs. 1 through 3, comprises a metallic bit member I which is curved 55 to conform to the shape of the mouth, and which is provided adjacent each end thereof with eyeholes 2 containing bridle rings 3. One of the eyeholes, the left one appearing in Fig. 1, may be closed so that the ring therein cannot be removed; the eye-hole being closed over the ring 5 before hand. The opposite eye-hole is open through slot 4; so that the ring may be readily removed therefrom or inserted therein for a purpose to be subsequently explained. Preferably, the removable, ring is made flat sided to allow a 10 minimum width slot 4, thereby obviating unnecessary enlargement of the device; and for the sake of appearance the other ring is also made fiat sided.

Adjacent each end of member I is removably mounted an annular plate-like structure 6 which is preferably about twoto-four inches in diameter, and which. is .shaped to have'itsperipheral edge bear against the outside of the horsescheek. Between such structures is a rubber sleeve I removably mounted over member I and which holds the structures in position against rings 3; the structures 6 being provided with narrow elongated apertures B to allow passage of member I therethrough. Each of structures 6 is saucershaped and comprises an outwardly dished, relatively soft rubber disk 9 secured by rivets II to an outwardly dished non-resilient backing member I2, preferably of metal, which is of less diameter than the rubber disk 9. As a result of such arrangement, there is provided a yieldable peripheral edge portion M on each structure 6, which engages the outside of the horses check when the horse is reined to a side, and also a pocket I5 to accommodate the cheek.

The yieldable peripheral portion I 4 constitutes the pressure area engaging the cheek when the horse is reined to a side, and because of the yieldable character thereof and the softness of the 40 rub-ber, the horse will not be hurt. At the same time, it is to be noted that by virtue of the pocket I 5 resulting from the outward dishing, such peripheral yieldable portion engages the cheek at a location remote from the entrance of member I through the mouth. Consequently, when the horse is reined to either side, plate-like structure 6 will have purchase solely against the horse's cheek remote from the point of entrance of member I into the mouth, and member I cannot be drawn endwise through the mouth. This prevents the inside mouth membranes from being rubbed against the horse's teeth, which as previously explained is what causes such membranes to become sore. In Fig. 3, the guide reins I1 and the bridle straps l8 are shown connected to rings 3.

The entire surface of the bit which presents itself to the horse's mouth is of soft rubber, as can be observed from Fig. 1, and this obviously makes for a comfortable bit. Preferably, all the metallic parts of thebit are provided with a coating of non-corrosive nature such as chromium or nickel plating, to enhance the life of such parts. Should the rubber become worn, the rubber parts may be readily replaced by shoving inwardly the right hand structure 6 appearing in Fig. 1, removing the right hand ring 3 through slot 4, removing the right hand structure 6, slipping off the sleeve 1, and finally removing the left hand structure 6. Assembly of new rubber parts can be readily effected in a reverse manner. If so desired, instead of providing slot 4 only atone end of member I, both ends of the member may be so slotted, thus enabling each-of the saucershaped,.plate-like structures 6 to-be removable and replaceable at each end of member I.

Fig. 4 illustrates another form which the saucer-shaped structure mayv assume, although it is not as desirable as that previously described because the edge portion 24 thereof which is adapted to bear against the horses cheek is not resilient. Such structure 23 may be made of a single piece of metaL'hard rubber or the like, and is saucer-shaped to provide pocket 25 for accommodating the'horses cheek, and thereby enable transmission of pressureto such cheek at a location spaced from member I, for the purpose previously explained. The edge portion is preferably made fiat so asto vprovide .al relamoval of the structure 23in the manner previous- 1y explained.

1 .'A bit comprising a member adapted to extend through an animals mouth and a platelike structure adjacent-each end of said member, each of said structures including a rubber disk and an outwardly dished non-resilient backing member therefor of less diameter than the rubber disk. 7

2. A bit comprising a rubber covered member adapted to extend through an animals mouth, and a plate-like structure adjacent each end of said member, each of'said structures including securedv to an outwardly dished metallic backing member therefor of less diameter than the rubber disk, and a rubber sleeve removably mounted on said member between said structures.

IRA BARKER DALZIEL. 4O. 

